Douglas Rugby Club continue their preparations for the new league season by entertaining Cill Dara RFC at Port-e-Chee this Saturday.

The Kildare side play in the Division 2A of the Leinster League and will provide a stern test for the Manx side who were beaten 38-17 by Regional Two North East champions Scarborough in their first pre-season game last weekend.

Kick-off this weekend is scheduled for 2pm, but it might be adjusted depending on the Irish side’s travel.

Phil Cringle’s charges will have a few weeks longer than expected to hone their fitness after the English RFU made the unprecedented decision to delay the start of the season in light of the current hard ground conditions brought about by the dry summer (see this week’s Examiner).

The fixture list now has Douglas at Birkenhead Park for opening round of the Regional Two North West season on September 26, before hosting Burnage at Port-e-Chee on October 3.